One of our favorite recipes during the holidays is this Cranberry Walnut Salad. This Cranberry Ambrosia Salad variation is easy and versatile and it can be served as a side dish or on your dessert table.

Cranberry Walnut Salad, cranberry ambrosia salad

For years we only used fresh cranberries as decorations, either stringing them for the tree or pilling them in a beautiful bowl. They are a gorgeous color and add a very festive cheer around the house during the holidays, but I think I missed an opportunity during all those years to add these berries to our menu since these berries are very nutritious.

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When I was growing up the only way I ever ate any kind of cranberries was in that canned cranberry sauce around Thanksgiving. You know, that jellied stuff that your mom would cut out both ends of the cranberry sauce can and slide the entire contents out, then slice it to accompany your Thanksgiving turkey? I’m not saying there is anything wrong with that, I still love that stuff and our favorite way to serve it is on our chicken or turkey sandwiches.

How to enjoy the Health Benefits of Cranberries:

We have read that cranberries have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer benefits and are a good source of vitamin C and dietary fiber. And some consider it a a super food for it’s high nutrient and antioxidant content.

And in the last few years, we have expanded our horizons and we begin cooking with cranberries. Either in Cranberry Muffins with Streusel Topping or in Homemade Cranberry Sauce and we have even tried dehydrating them. It still amazes me that when cranberries are cooked or dehydrated the little berries totally change from bitter to sweet and delicious, you know one of the mysteries of nature. But as in most fruits or veggies, some of the nutrients are lost in the cooking process so it’s a trade-off.

Raw cranberries can be chopped and sparingly added in a variety of dishes such as in a spinach salad, in a chicken salad or topped over yogurt where the tart taste accents the dish but not overwhelms it.

But since raw cranberries are so bitter, the best option is to add some sweetness to them such as sugar or mixing them with sweeter fruits. This way the health benefits are not reduced and they are more pleasing to the palate.

How to Make Cranberry Ambrosia Salad:

Scroll to the bottom for the printable recipe

This Cranberry Walnut Salad with Pineapples and Marshmallows is made with fresh cranberries which adds just the right touch to an otherwise too sweet fruit salad. And by mixing them with sugar and left standing overnight, it mitigates the bitter of the cranberries but leaves the health benefits. I think its the Mary Poppins theory we knew as children, “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down”. But the real reason I make this cranberry ambrosia salad is that it is delicious with just the right clash of bitter and sweet flavor plus it’s just gorgeous.

Ingredients needed:

12 oz package of fresh cranberries
1/2 cup white sugar
15.5 oz can crushed pineapple, drained
16 oz bag of miniature marshmallows
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 pint heavy whipping cream

Instructions:

Coarsely chop cranberries in a food processor
Place chopped cranberries, sugar and marshmallows in a covered food storage container and mix well, cover and let set in the fridge overnight
Whip the heavy cream
Remove from fridge and add the pineapple, and pecans and fold in the whipped cream
Store covered in the fridge until ready to serve.

It’s so sad that we only make this Cranberry Walnut Salad during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. But that’s usually the only time one can find fresh cranberries in our local market. I do have cravings for it all year long and it’s always been a hit here on the Ranch. And of course, we think the best way to eat fresh cranberries is in the Cranberry Walnut Salad.

Other Fall Inspired Recipes

Click HERE to save this Cranberry Ambrosia Salad with Walnuts to Pinterest

Print Recipe

4.20 from 5 votes

Cranberry Walnut Salad

Prep Time20

Resting Time8

Total Time8 20

Course: Dessert, Salad

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Cranberry Ambrosia Salad, Cranberry Walnut Salad, Cranberry, Pineapple, Marshmellow Salad, Fresh Cranberry Salad

Servings:

Calories: 329kcal

Author: Evelyn Osborn

Ingredients

1 12 oz package fresh cranberries
1/2 cup sugar
1 15.5 oz can crushed pineapple drained
1 16 oz bag miniature marshmallows
1 cup walnuts chopped
1/2 pint heavy whipping cream

Instructions

Coarsely chop cranberries in a food processor
Place chopped cranberries, sugar and marshmallows in a covered food storage container and mix well, cover and let set in fridge overnight
Whip the heavy whipping cream using a mixer or a whipped cream maker
Remove from fridge and add the pineapple, and pecans and fold in the whipped cream
Store covered in the fridge until ready to serve.

Nutrition

4.20 from 5 votes (1 rating without comment)

Marti

Friday 15th of March 2024

I make one similar, will try yours! You know you can freeze bags of cranberries to use year round!

Mackenzie

Saturday 7th of December 2013

I just had something VERY similar at our school Thanksgiving potluck and I LOVED IT! I can't wait to try this Evelyn; thanks for sharing! :)

Miz Helen

Sunday 1st of December 2013

Congratulations!Your recipe is featured on Full Plate Thursday this week. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving and enjoy your new Red Plate.Miz Helen

Jamie @ Love Bakes Good Cakes

Monday 25th of November 2013

I love these kinds of salads! Pinning :)

Michelle

You know southerners love their salads. And I don't mean the green leafy kind! This would be gobbled up in minutes around here. I can see why it's your favorite.Thank you for linking!